Override Films keeps the camera flying with the help of SmallHD

Jordan Overman is a rare individual who combines his passion for the great outdoors with a career dedicated to dynamic camera movement. With an action sports background the cinematographer is quite comfortable taking extreme measures in challenging environments to squeeze every bit of excitement out of a shot.

Just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah is where Overman spreads his wings in the diverse Rocky Mountain terrain when he isn’t on the road working in the US or internationally.

His company, Override Films, is sought out for their expertise in aerial cinematography, which includes drone and helicopter work as well as being Utah’s leading provider of Camera Car / Russian Arm services—all essential for the large volume of vehicle spots, network content, and feature films that they work on. Usually his team supports big name production crews with their specialty camera services, logistics and unique Utah know-how. Other times Override produces commercial projects from start to finish.

Early adopters of drone cinematography, they built up an inventory of support essentials to perfect every shot. Over a decade ago he added SmallHD’s legacy DP series monitors to his drone kit and later moved up to AC-7 OLEDs, then 702 Brights. “They offer the right size and quality for the nature of the remote on-location gimbal work we do, especially when it comes to viewing the details while getting the best shot. Compact form factor and durability make SmallHD monitors integrate perfectly into our unique workflow. We also build the 7” 702 Brights and 703 UtraBrights into setups in our camera cars, as well as in the field for client monitors on C-stands or handheld.”

He was glad to try out the new SmallHD Cine 13 monitor as soon as it arrived: “We used it on a Chevy commercial with a top DP in the Utah mountains. Space was at a premium inside our Ford Raptor Arm Car.” Capturing the images was a RED Helium with a Fujinon 19-90 zoom lens. It was equipped with a Teradek Bolt 4K Max that transmitted several thousand feet back to the video village where the agency and clients watched in real time.

Also in the Raptor, Overman points out, “We had two SmallHD 702s for the driver and boom operator. In the back there was a 1703 for the 1^st AC to pull focus off and the Cine 13 for the DP.” In terms of functionality, the Cine 13 has all the operating features as the other SmallHDs plus extras. The intuitive interface offers the user tools Override’s crew is familiar with including focus assist and onscreen display options they have come to expect. The ACs know how to set them up to their liking and Overman says “Having a user interface that’s familiar to every camera department is really nice. Usually they request SmallHD, so being able to accommodate that is very important to our business.”

“Especially in a vehicle, the 13” is a nice size— much bigger than the 703s but not a giant screen in the backseat. It left room for the arm controls, remote head control, as well as the Alpha Wheels that the DP wanted. That medium-sized monitor left us plenty of space to fit in the other equipment.”

Later in the shoot Override did their hallmark drone work. “We use SmallHD monitors as the client feed while we fly”, says Overman. “The Cine 13 is the perfect size for several people to view, while still being portable enough to take to remote locations, along with all the other drone gear that we need with us.

“Having the best tools is important for our team of operators and also for the clients who hire us. They expect the best, so it’s important for us to go above and beyond those expectations, both with our work as well as with the gear we use to do our job.”